Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences (Jan 2017)
Effect of atorvastatin on high sensitivity c-reactive protein, pulmonary function, and quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - an open-labeled randomized control trial
Abstract
Objective: Beneficial effects of statins on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been projected in many retrospective studies, but prospective studies were lacking. Hence, this study was done to study the efficacy of atorvastatin in improving the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP levels), pulmonary functions, and quality of life in COPD patients. Materials and Methods: This was an open-labeled interventional study conducted on sixty stable COPD patients who were having abnormal lipid profile. The patients were randomized into two groups of thirty patients each – one receiving medications for COPD and another receiving 20 mg atorvastatin along with other medications for COPD. The outcome measures were change in hs-CRP levels, pulmonary function test, and health-related quality of life after 12 weeks. Results: A total of sixty participants with COPD were enrolled for the study and divided into two equal groups of thirty patients. There were two and one drop outs in atorvastatin and without atorvastatin group. After 12 weeks follow-up in the atorvastatin group, there was a significant improvement in the levels of hs-CRP levels from 4.82 ± 0.77 to 2.81 ± 0.73 (P < 0.05) as compared to other group without atorvastatin (4.34 ± 0.97–4.04 ± 0.63). Mean force expiratory value in 1 s as a percent of predicted value was similar in the atorvastatin and group without atorvastatin after 12 weeks: 54.2 ± 18.1–55.6 ± 17.9 (P = 0.54) and 55.7 ± 19.1–56.1 ± 18.1 (P = 0.58), respectively. Both treatments had similar improvement in St. George Respiratory Questionnaire total score. No adverse effect was observed in the atorvastatin group. Conclusion: Atorvastatin at a daily dose of 20 mg for 12 weeks has a significant beneficial effect on the levels of hs-CRP in COPD patient in comparison with the other group not receiving atorvastatin. There was no effect on the pulmonary function test and quality of life scores.
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